The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-03
POLICE OF BERLIN,
Ror the German Capital Is Guarded
against Law-Breakers.

RoS the German Capital Is Guardet
Against Law-Breakers.
Baron Won Richtoffen, PresidenS O
the Berlin police, combines in his per
son the duties which in London ar,
divided between the Chief Commits
sioner of Police and the Board o.
Works. He not only looks after the
safety and health of the public, but
has under his surveillance the streets
markets and buildings.
In relation to the Berlin municipality,
which by its excellent financial
management has shown itself worthy
of the considerable administrative
economy which it enjoys, the President
Of Police exercises certain rights o.
control. He represents the State in it
relations with the people in the first in
stance, and is the organ of the execu-
tive power.
The municipality bears a large share
Of the police expenditure, paying for
the uniforms of the Schutzleute, and
providing the buildings in the various
localities where they are stationed. The
State provides the pay of the men.
That of the fire brigade comes out OF
the municipal funds, although the fire.
men, like the Schutzleute, are under
the orders of the President of Police.
The policemen are only employed
during the daytime. At night the
capital is contided to the care of watch.
men who wear distinctive uniforms
and are provided with whistle and a
saber. These men are on duty from
ten o'clock at night till five or six
o'clock the next morning. the final
hour varying according to the season
of the year. They number five hum
dred. The effective strength of the
police is thirty-five hundred. of which
number about fifty are mounted.
All the policemen are old subordinate
officers of the army, and are of a certain
standard height. They must have
passed nine years in the army. and
employment is given only to those who
have distinguished themselves by good
conduct, zeal and assiduity. They ara
respected by and live on good terms.
with the civil population. although their
manner occasionally betrays their
military training and is not exempt
from brusquenesS.
The Berliner submits by force OF
habit to the injunctions of the police
man, and on military parade days one
constable is sufficient to keep large
number of spectators in order.
The morale of the corps is good, be-
cause the men know that they are sup
ported by both the public and the
superior authority. The latter Furnishes
all faults and negligences on the part
of the force, and protects it when it is
in the right.
In addition to this outdoor police.
which sees To the execution of laws and
regulations and maintains order in the
streets, there is a police of safety,
whose mission is to discover the authors
of crimes and misdemeanors, and to
keep strict watch over the dangerous
classes, so as to prevent as far as
possible the preparation of offenses
against person and property.
The head of the Police OF Safety is
Count Puckler. The agents of safety
wear ordinary civil dress, and when
they visit dangerous quarters carry a
revolver. The latter privilege has re-
recently been granted to tacm in conse-
quence of some serious encounters with
armed criminals.
The possession of IL revolver is calcu-
lated to give the agent a greater
degree of assurance, but he is strictly
forbidden to use the weapon except in
the last extremity.
The district agents are specially
charged with the surveillance of dealers
in old clothes, pawnbrokers and all
suspected persons having fixed
domicilc. The town is divided for the
purpose of this department of the force
into eight districts, eacn of which is I'M
der the direction of commissioner.
The division OF labor. which is SC
marked feature of the Berlin police
force, is carried down to the dangerous
classes.-LOnd0n STANDARD.